Heal Thyself

We recently talked to six of the most respected names in the field and asked them to share their tips on everything from preventing headaches to improving digestion.

When it comes to your health, the best thing you can do is protect and defend against future problems. This local health expert say smart thinking about nutrition, supplements, and mind-body connections can make prevention almost painless.

By Sarah Moran

PHOTO BY JOE TRELEVEN

Integrative medicine is starting to transform the Western world. And here in Minnesota, it's blooming like crazy.

Our state's ahead of the curve when it comes to holistic care, according to Bill Manahan, MD, an assistant professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota Medical School and past president of the American Holistic Medicine Association. Manahan, whom peers call “a sage” and “the father of holistic medicine in Minnesota,” recently completed a tour of 20 integrative-medicine clinics across the state and says he was “blown away” by the innovation and success rates he encountered.

“In the last five to 10 years, there's been a dramatic increase in patient knowledge and patient demand for a broader picture of healing,” says Manahan.

In other words, people are clamoring for the kind of integrative care that so impressed Manahan: Doctors who uncover the root cause of illness instead of just treating or masking symptoms. Physicians who take body, mind, and spirit into account and look carefully at the influence of lifestyle habits like diet, activity, and rest. People are looking for providers who count scientifically backed methods like acupuncture, herbs, dietary changes, and meditation among their tools—along with Western medicine's diagnostic tests, prescription medications, and procedures.

People also want their doctors to spend time with them. Initial appointments with many integrative-medicine doctors run one to three hours, a relief to anyone sick of the hi-how-are-you-here's-a-prescription-bye routine.

Minnesota's lucky to have many excellent integrative doctors. (Find some at holisticphysicians.info .)

Of course, no health advice would be complete without a friendly reminder that you, dear reader, are a unique individual. It's a good idea to check with your health-care provider before making changes to your health or medical routine.

Dr. Mark Hoch

PARTNERS IN HEALING OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNEAPOLIS
BACKGROUND

Board-certified in family medicine and holistic medicine; trained in osteopathic and nutritional medicine, tai chi and chi gong, and Trager neuromuscular therapy

SEE HIM FOR

General preventive care, injuries, body-structure alignment problems, thyroid and adrenal issues, pain, mental health

HOCH SAYS

“The idea of prevention is often fear-based, like ‘I don’t want to get this!’ instead of ‘I’m doing this so I can be healthy and lead a life that doesn’t require a lot of outside intervention.’ That’s key—engaging the self-healing, self-regulating, self-correcting mechanisms of the body.”

HIS TIPS FOR OVERALL GOOD HEALTH

➻ Eat local, fresh, and in-season organic food. It’s nutritious, and you’ll reduce your intake of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Researchers have found pesticides in tumor tissues of people living in areas with high rates of breast cancer.

➻ Find a form of exercise you enjoy that’s rejuvenating for your entire body, like tai chi or yoga.

➻ Live your purpose and passion through meaningful work. A Department of Labor study in the 1970s showed the no. 1 risk factor for first heart attacks was job dissatisfaction.

➻ Follow a set of spiritual principles. Engage in regular prayer or meditation. It’ll keep you balanced, ensure you stick with your values, and treat yourself and others well.